Improvement in velocipedes



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

Patented Dec. 29, 1868.

-2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

' Ve|0cipede.

Patented Dec; 29, 1868.

v No. 85,501,

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SYLVESTER ew-ooh, OF MANITOWOC, WISCONSIN. Letters Patent No. 85,501, dated December 29, 1868.

HEPRO VEMENT IN VELOCIPEDES.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

To all whom it mwy concern 7 Be it known that I, SYLVESTER A. WOOD, of the village of Manitowoc, in the county of Manitowoc, and

State of Wisconsin, have invented a new and useful- Three-Wheeled Velocipede; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, in which.-

Figure 1 is a perspective view;

Figure 2, a perspective view, with sleigh-attachments;

Figure 3, a side view of one of the pawl-pulleys,..with an opening showing the pawls, a section of the ratchet- 'wheel, and how the pawls act on it, and the packing or cushions of the ratchet-wheel teeth;

Figure 4, a side view of one of the connecting-rods, with its brace-linked chain-extension;

Figure 5, a perspective'view of the hind axle, and part of the reach, showing the reach-boxes or couplings, the set-screws therein, and the chain-guides;

Figure 6, a peispective view of one of the slotted paddles;

Figure 7, one of the paddle-springs; and

I Figure 8, one of the slotted plates for guiding or ste'adying the paddles.

To each of the hind. or driving-wheels A A, figs. l and 2, a ratchet-wheehll B, figs. 1, 2, and 3, is securely fastened, the paw'ls or ratchets a a a, fig. 3, to operate which, are attached to the loose pawl-pulleys O O, figs. 1, 2, and 3,. and are so arranged as, to catch on the top of the ratchet-wheel by their own weight, (or theymay be' aided by light spn'ngs,) which pulleys have grooves-on the edges, for the chain-extensions of the connecting-rods to run in, and turn upon the hind axle.

The chains g, figs; 1 and nforming the extensions of the connecting-rods c c, figs. 1, 2, and 4, are bracelinkcd, so as to bend downward only sufliciently to describe the circle of the bottomof the grooves in which they run, and upwards only a little out of a straight line, as shown by fig. 4, thus operating as a belt on the pawl-pulleys, thereby securing uniform leverage, when drawn out for the purpose of turning the ratchetwheels, and any length of stroke within the compass of the motions of the feet, and as a rod or bar for turning or pushing back the pawl-pulleys.

.These connecting-rods are attached to the pawl-pulleys by a pin, 11, fig. 3, in each pulley, and to the levers e e, at i, figs. 1 and 2, which levers are hinged on the braces m m, figs. 1 and 2, and work backward and forward in slots between the door of the vehicle and the reach D, figs. 1 and 2, connecting the forward wheel A, figs. 1 and 2, with the hind wheels A A.

At or near the. top of each of the levers e e, a cord,

11-, is attached, which passes through one of the pullcys o '0, figs. 1. and 2, and is held in'that hand of the rider which is opposite the lever to which the cord is connected.

Near the top of each of the levers c e, a foot-pin, p,

figs. 1 and 2, projects, upon which a treadle, 1', figs. 1 and 2, is placed, which treadles turn or vibrate with the motions of the feet of'the rider.

A strap, s, fig. 2, is secured to each foot, sufficiently loose to receive a treadle between it and the bottom of the. foot, by drawing the foot backward over the top, of the treadle, thereby securing the treadles to the feet, and enabling the rider to draw back the levers, connecting-rods, and pawl-pulleys, without liability of the feet slipping from the treadles, and at the sametime permitting the feet to be easily detached fi'om the trcadlesby pushing the feet forward.

The propulsion of the vehicle is produced by working the levers c 0 back and forth with the feet, or the feet and hands combined, each forward motion of the levers, in combination with the chain-extension, connecting-rods c c, the pawl-pulleys O O, pawls a a a, and ratchet-wheels B B, giving the carriage-wheels'A A, a forward turn, and each backward motion of the levers and connecting-rods turning back the pawl-pulleys and pawl s, ready to make another forward turn of the cariiage-wheels, which backward motion requires very-little power, and but slightly retards the velocity of the vehicle, little resistance being given by the backward motion of the pawls over the ratchet-wheels.

To propel the carriage or vehicle with the feet al n the levers are worked backward and forward by a niotion of the feet similar to that in walking.

To propel it with the hands and feet combined, the hands assist the opposite feet by pulling on the cords or lines it n, thereby producing double the power obtained by working the feet alone.

For guiding-the carriage, -a cross-bar, t, figs. 1 and 2, is firmly secured to the upright forked shaft u, figs. 1 and 2, which keeps the forward wheel A in position, at right angles with the plane of the wheel.

Between this cross-bar and the rider, and at the proper distance before the rider to be taken hold of with the hands, is asupplcmental cross bar, t figs. 1

and 2, kept in place bythe supporting-rods 'v c, figs.1 and 2, a vertical pin through the centre, and the horizontal plates w, figs. l and 2, the ends of which crossbars are movable back and forth horizontally.

These two cross-bars are connected by the rods or bars a; x, figs. 1 and 2, by means of holes through them, and of the .pins 1 y y y, figs. 1 and 2, projectingupward from the ends of both cross-bars.

These cross-bar connecting-rods are sufficiently long, and have holes so adjusted in them for the pins y, as to be placed either parallel with or across each other, as occasion may require.

When the carriage is propelled'by' the feet alone, it is more convenient, for guiding it, that the cross-bar connecting-rods should be parallel with each other, but when both the hands and the feet are used for propulsion, then the rods should be crossed, for the reason that when both the hands and feet are so employed, the guiding is done by the self-supporting forked lever z, figs. 1 and 2, which fits close to the body, under the arms of the rider, and is so adjusted to the supplemental cross-bar, as to swing it back and forth, as the forked lever turns to the right or the left, which right or left motion of the lever is given by the lateral inclinations of the riders body, and by crossing the crossbar connecting-rods, the forward 'wheel turns to the right when the body inclines to the right, and vice versa.

.When the hands are not used for propulsion, the forked lever is detached from the body, by turning it forward, and the guiding done by taking hold of the supplemental cross-bar with the hands.

The vehicle is provided with brakes, a 'a attached to. the bar 0, which are operated by the foot-rod d, cord 0 and leverh, and press against the ratchetwheels D D, as shown by figs. 1 and 2, or they may be so adjusted as to act on the rims of the hind carriage-wheels themselves. The brakes, when not in use, are kept from contact with the wheels by the spring 1, figs. 1 and 2.

The reach D is confined to the hind axle by the boxes or couplings 7a 15, fig. 5, in which the axle turns freely when necessary.

The hind wheels also turn freely on the axle, but the hub of each wheel has a set-screw, l, figs. 1 and 2, and each box on the back end of the reach has a like set-screw, I l -fig. 5, by which the wheels and reach.- boxes may be'made fast to the axle; but for general use, only-fthefset-scrcws in the reach-boxes should be tightened to 'prevent the axle from turning, leaving the wheels free to turn on the axle. When, however, greats'pceil is. required, on a straight course or road, where it is notnecessaryto turn thevehicle, the setscrewsin. the w'heel-hubs may be tightened, so as to make the wheels fast to the axle, and at the same time the set-screws in the reach-boxes loosened, so as to permit the axle to turn freely in them. By this arrangement the power applied by-each stroke of the feet, or of the feet and hands combined, acts upon both wheels at the same time, and gives additional speed to the carriage, but only the most gradual turns of the carriage can be made, for the reason that both wheels, being fast to the axle, one or the other of them must drag in making any but the most gradual curves.

It'is supposed thatthe chain-guides m on, figs. 1,2, and 5, may not be required in a full-sized velocipede, for practical use, as the chains may probably be made sufiiciently strong and stiff to work well without the chain-guides.

For travelling on snow or ice, the following arrangement is adopted, to wit: I

To the reach D the sleigh-runners A fig. 2, are attached, by' means of the frame B B B fig. 2, the runners being placed an inch or so'below the rims of the hind wheels, which are provided with slotted paddles lt a, figs. 2 and 6, at the outward extremity of each spoke, which paddles project beyond the rims of the wheels andbelow the bottom of the sleighq-unners and to the forward wheel, A, a-single runner, A", fig. 2, is attached, which is provided with the supplemental guiding-runner or knife, 0', fig. 2, working on a hinge and dropping below the forward runner, either through or beside it, in order' to prevent any lateral motion or shaping of the forward runner.

he operations of the rider, for travelling on'snow or ice, are the same as for travelling on land; but instead of the wheel rolling upon the snow or ice, the paddles catch in it and push the runnersforward.

The paddles are made fast to a socket, 1 figs. 2 and 6, on the end of each spoke of the hind wheels, and are pressed outward or drawn inward by the springs r figs. 2 and 7, on each spoke, which springs pass through theeyes or loops 3, fig. 6, on the inner end of each paddle-socket.

The paddles are kept from twisting or turning by' passing through slots on each side of the plates t",-

iigs. 2 and 8, fastened to the rims of the hind wheels at the end of each spoke; and as they'are pressed outward by soft springs, they slide in iwulily as they come in contact with unyielding substaances, and thus prevent any joltin g arising from the paddles themselves.

The paddles may all be let out or drawn in simulta: neously, so as to prescnta smooth-rimmed wheel, for travelling on the ground when the runners are detached, or paddled wheels, for travelling on snow or ice, with the runners attached, by the following arrangement,

viz:

On each of the hind wheels is a ring, 17 fig. 2, concentric with the rim of the wheel, attached to the spokes by the loops w fig. 2, on each spoke, which ring slides back and forth in the loops which hold it'in place.

Between each spoke, and on each sliding ring, a loop, x fig.- 2, is fastened, which loops embrace the springs 1*, between each spoke.

Also, attached to each of the sliding rings is a fulcrum-eye or eyes, 3 fig. 2.

To let: out the paddles, pass a rod or lever through one of the fulcrum-eyes y, and by the fore part of the wheel-hub, and pull forward, and all the paddles are let out. v

To draw in. the paddles, pass the lever through one of the fulcrum-eyes, and. behind the wheel-hub, and push backward, and all the paddles are drawn in, and kept in by the loops :6, embracing the springs, catching in the depressions in the springs, as shown at 2 fig. 7.

The ratchet-wheels are made oftwo plates, with India-rubber packing between them, as shown by the section of the ratchet-wheel in fig. 3, cut to conform to the shape of the ratchet-wheel teeth, which packing operates as a cushion to deaden the sound of the pawls in passing over the teeth of the wheels.

Instead of making the ratchet-wheels of two plates, the wheels may be grooved, and the packing or cushions inserted in the grooves.

Other parts ofv the vehicle may be packed or cushioned, where-practicable, with rubber or other suitable material, to prevent noise from the clattering of the parts.

To secure lightness, the various parts, where practicable, should be constructed of tubular or corrugated metal. c

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by'Letters Patent, is--- 1. The ratchet-wheels B B, the pawls a, the pawlpulleys O C, the pins (1 d, the connecting-rods c c, with their brace-linked chain-extensions g, the levers e e, the cords n n, and the pulleys 0 0, or their equivalents, the foot-pins p p, the treadles 'r r, and the foot-straps 8 8, all arranged and acting in combination with the wheels A A,-reach D, and wheel A substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.-

2. The supplemental cross-bar t, thepins y, the supporting-rods 1: 0, the circular plates w, the crossbar connecting-rods x x, and the forked lever z, all arranged and acting in combination with the forward cross-bar t, for guiding the vehicle, substantially as herein shown and described.

3.. The hub set-screws Z l, the reach-boxes or coup- I lings k k, with their set-screws I l, the chain-guides m m, the brake-foot rod or bar 0 and the packing or cushions for the ratchet-wheels, substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.

4. In combination with the first above-described arrangement, combination, and operation of parts, the runners A and A, the supplemental guiding-runner or knife 0 the frame 13*, the slotted paddles M the slotted plates t the springs 4 the sliding rings v the fulcrum-eyes 3f, and the loops :0 arranged and operating to propel the vehicleon snow or ice, substantially in the manner herein set forth and described.

'5.'A three-wheeled velocipede,'the parts of which ar e constructed, arranged, and combined, substantially as and for the purposes herein shown and described.

Dated atManitowoc, Wisconsin, November 20, 1868.

SYLVESTER A. WOOD.

Witnesses;

JNO. Bums, 0'r'r0 LEUBNEB. I 

